Automatic fire-extinguisher



Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS W. WHITING, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC- FIRE-EXTINGU ISH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,813, dated November22, 1881. Application filed April e, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. WRITING, ofChelsea, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented anImprovement in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of fireextinguishers in whichpermanent conductingpipes are arranged to convey water or other liquidto the point or points to be protected, and the fluid is automaticallyreleased from roses or distributers by the action of the heat of a fireupon a fusible alloy or solder by which the said distributors normallyremain sealed.

In the distributers of this class heretofore in use the fusible alloyhas been placed in contact with the body of metal of the distributer orpipe, and in some instances the cover has been fastened as a sleeveabout the neck of the distributer, the solder then being in the form ofa cylindrical film wrapped about the distributer-neck. When disposed inthis manner the temperature of a considerable mass of metal has to beraised before the solder is fused, and much valuable time in theincipient stages of a fire is lost. A11 extinguisher has also been madein which the soldering portion is separated from the main portion by anannular recess', but the cover fits over as a tube or sleeve, so thatmuch friction is developed in removing the said cover, even after thesolder is softened so as to no longer resist the said movement by itscohesion, and the apparatus is consequently uncertain and slow inoperation.

My invention consists in providing the distributer and its cover withsoldering-flanges extended from the main body of the metal in the formof a thin annular sheet, the solder being interposed between theseflanges, which are so nearly independent of the main body of thedistributor that the latter can conduct but little heat from them, andbeing very thin they are heated almost as quickly as the surroundingatmosphere, and the solder is melted much sooner than in distributers ofordinary construction. By this construction the line of movement of thecover from the distributer is nearly at right angles to the film ofsolder, so that no force except the actual strength or cohesion andadhesion of the solder resists the removal of the said cover, whichconsequently takes place as soon as the solder softens or growssufficiently weak. The cover which keeps the water back corresponds inshape with and is fitted closely upon the distributer, thus covering itsorifices for discharge, no space being left between the cover anddistributor. This is done to keep the impurities of the water orsediment away from the operating portion of the distributor. flexiblematerial is placed between the corresponding surfaces of cover anddistributer, it lying wholly within the soldering-flanges and operatingto keep the water back until the fusible metal shall have completelysoftened.

Figure 1 is a side elevationof my improved distributor Fig. 2, alongitudinal section thereof, and Figs. 3 and 4 top views thereof withthe cover on and removed respectively. 7

The distributer a is shown as of cast metal of any suitable shape, ithaving a convex perforated distributingportion, l), and a thinsoldering-flange, 0, extended out in continuation of the lowerimperforated part of the distributer.

The cover (I, which may be struck up or of spun metal, is preferablyshaped to correspond with the outer surface of the distributing portionb of the distributer, and has a flange portion, 6, made to correspondwith the solderingflange 0 of the distributer a, so thatwhen the coveris placed upon the top of the distributer it coincides closelytherewith, and no space is left between them.

In sealing up the distributors to make them ready to be attached to thewater-pipes in the building to be protected, a thin washer, f, of rubberor other suitable yielding material, is placed between the distributingportion 1) and the cover (I, and the fusible solder is'run in betweenthe flanges c e, as shown at g, Fig. 2. The washer f closes tightly theorifice of the distributer as long as the cover 01 lies above it, sothat it is not until the solder is softened suficiently to entirelyrelease the said cover that the water begins to flow, and it then flowsforcibly through the unobstructed orifices, while with the ordinarydistributers where the water is retained only by the cover, if thesolder softens at one point it will let the water leak through and thuscool it, and delay the re- A cover or washer of 'is very sensitive tothe action of heat, which the cap fits closely over the perforatedportion,

can be conducted away from the said flanges to the body of metal of thedistributor a only through the small area at 2, remote from the solderg, while in distributers of ordinary construetion the said metal lies indirect contact with the solder, and the whole mass and inclosed waterhas to have its temperature considerably raised by conduction from orthrough the said solder from the outside before the said solder willmelt.

I have herein described a distributor in which and have also shown anddescribed a seal or washer properly located to prevent the water l fromreaching the soldered joint between the said distributer and cap; but Ido not broadly claim such construction.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a distributer, of a cap covering thedistributer and secured by fusible solder to a flange,the solder-jointedsurface of the cap and flange being inclined to the axis of thedistributer, whereby the cap is enabled to immediately separate from theflange on the softening of the solder.

2. The distributor provided with a perforated portion, and cover fittedto coincide therewith, combined with the washer f, interposed betweenthe said cover and (listribnter,whereby the perforations are maintainedtightly closed until the cover is entirely released, when the water ispermitted to issue with full force, sub- 7 stantially as described.

